Screening and management standards for the "Specified Skilled Worker (No. 2)" visa, which is highly popular among foreign workers as a stepping stone to long-term residency and permanent residency in Japan, are set to become much stricter.
Japan's Immigration Services Agency announced that for all status of residence applications related to Specified Skilled Worker No. 2 (Certificate of Eligibility issuance, permission for change of status of residence, and permission for extension of period of stay) submitted on or after August 20, 2026, the submission of a new form, the "Written Pledge Regarding the Work Content of Specified Skilled Worker (No. 2) Foreign Nationals," will be mandatory.
This measure aims to objectively verify whether Specified Skilled Worker No. 2 foreign nationals are actually performing high-level duties and supervisory roles appropriate for their status.
Standards for "Proficient Skills" Required for Specified Skilled Worker No. 2
Unlike No. 1, which focuses on hands-on practical work, Specified Skilled Worker No. 2 requires a level of proficient skills that enables individuals to perform highly professional and technical tasks based on their own judgment or to act as a supervisor. Specifically, they must demonstrate the following work capabilities:
- Leadership and Supervisory Roles: Directly guiding and training multiple workers on-site.
- Process Management: Understanding, managing, and supervising the overall work process.
- Independent Judgment Tasks: Solving problems by making independent decisions based on professional skills without constant instruction.
The newly introduced written pledge is a document to prove that the general duties performed by the foreign national are clearly different from those of Technical Intern Trainees or Specified Skilled Worker No. 1 foreign nationals. The pledge must concretely and objectively state details such as the number of people under their guidance and supervision.
Strong Measures: "Visa Revocation" if Actual Work Differs
The most notable aspect of this revision is whether the contents of the pledge match the actual working conditions. If a discrepancy is found between the work duties described in the submitted pledge and the actual tasks performed by the foreign worker on-site, the foreign national's status of residence (visa) may be revoked.
Furthermore, if intentional false statements are detected, the accepting company (the organization to which the Specified Skilled Worker belongs) employing the foreign national will also suffer a severe blow. The company will face disqualification from accepting foreign nationals in the future, resulting in significant disadvantages such as the denial of Certificates of Eligibility or status applications for other foreign workers.
What Foreign Workers Need to Prepare For
This policy change follows a partial revision of the "Operational Guidelines for the Acceptance of Specified Skilled Foreign Nationals" effective August 20, 2026. Foreign workers who are preparing for a Specified Skilled Worker No. 2 visa or who have already obtained it and are facing renewal must check the following:
- Consistency Between Employment Contract and Actual Work: You must ensure that tasks such as "supervisory roles" or "process management" written in the employment contract or pledge are reflected in your actual daily routine. If you are solely engaged in simple repetitive labor or tasks at the No. 1 level, it could cause issues during the screening process.
- Verifying the Contents of the Pledge: You must clearly understand the contents of the written pledge (Reference Form No. 1-32) prepared and submitted by the company. You should carefully check that the actual number of people you supervise is not exaggerated or inaccurately stated.
Specified Skilled Worker No. 2 is a key visa for long-term settlement, as it allows family members to accompany the worker and has no limit on the number of renewals for the period of stay. As the Immigration Services Agency's monitoring becomes stricter, thorough preparation is essential to prevent unfortunate situations where a visa is revoked due to a mismatch between administrative procedures and actual working conditions.
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Source: 出入国在留管理庁